The assembly of deputies of Forza Italia, underway at the Palazzo dei Gruppo in Montecitorio, elected Paolo Barelli as the new group leader in the Chamber by acclamation. Barelli, a representative of the party’s government area, wanted by Silvio Berlusconi, takes the place of Alessandro Cattaneo, who becomes deputy national coordinator of the party. Born in 1954, former swimmer, sports manager and Italian politician, current president of the FIN and of the European Swimming League, from 1998 to 2003 he was Councilor for Tourism, Sport, Entertainment and Leisure for the province of Rome.
In 2001 he was elected senator of the Republic in the Lazio constituency in Forza Italia, of which he became deputy group leader. Reconfirmed in 2006 in FI and in 2008 in the list of the People of Freedom when he became vice president of the commission for cultural heritage, education and sport until 2013. In the general elections of 2018 he was elected to the Chamber of Deputies, with Forza Italia share, in the single-member constituency of Terracina supported by the centre-right coalition. He is considered one of the exponents closest to Antonio Tajani, national coordinator of the party
The document once morest Cattaneo
Barelli’s choice came following 31 out of 44 deputies signed a document once morest Cattaneo, and following rumors of support from Marta Fascina, Berlusconi’s companion, in favor of the more governmental wing of the party, all with the green light from the daughter of Cavaliere Marina Berlusconi. The official version is that the changeover takes place “in order to be ready for the next European elections, with a cohesive team rooted throughout the national territory”.
Barelli: risk of splits? No, there is no concern
Do possible splits worry you? “No, there is unanimity. I have already been group leader with twice as many parliamentarians. I know them all. Beyond the knowledge and personal friendship and acclaim, there has been no intervention in this sense”. So the deputy Paolo Barelli answering the questions of reporters following the meeting in Montecitorio in which he was elected leader of Forza Italia. «Those who know, know that the space that Forza Italia has is very important for everyone. There is no concern whatsoever. I believe that some rumors have also been denied ».
Seven new regional coordinators appointed
In recent days, Berlusconi had also appointed seven new Regional Coordinators: in addition to Sorte for Lombardy, Maria Elisabetta Casellati for Basilicata; Rosaria Tassinari for Emilia Romagna; Claudio Lotito for Molise; Marcello Caruso for Sicily; Marco Stella for Tuscany and Flavio Tosi for Veneto.
